5 Things That I Learned About Life From The Great British Baking Show

The Great British Baking Show is just finishing up it’s 14th season…now that’s a popular show! I have been watching it since the beginning and it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy. After watching so many episodes, these 5 things have consistently revealed themselves to be true.

You Can Do Anything in 5 Minutes

I am always amazed that when the host announces that there are only 5 minutes left to the challenge, the bakers who look SO FAR BEHIND pull it off in the end! Some of them don’t even pull their bakes out of the oven until there is only one minute left and they STILL HAVE TO DECORATE IT! It just shows that if you keep your cool and move as if you have all the time in the world, you will be less likely to make mistakes and can accomplish more than you imagined.

To keep myself from giving up or freaking out when I only have 5 minutes left, I take a couple of deep breaths and focus on baby steps. I imagine the baker who still has their cake in the oven, and I remember that if they can do it, I can too! By moving slowly instead of rushing, I methodically complete tasks much quicker. When I have become harried in the past, I often made mistakes that I had to undo or had even ended up injured! (No joke, I had a black eye from a swinging door hitting me in the head one time.)

The Power of a Handshake

Paul’s coveted handshake often leads to tears of amazement and overwhelming joy. Because he dispenses handshakes rarely and only when the item is superb, the baker knows that they have accomplished something close to perfection. This often comes at a time when the baker is doubting their abilities or suffering from imposter’s syndrome. This physical gesture alone builds a person’s confidence and makes them feel seen and appreciated. When someone touches you and looks in your eyes, you feel valued. No physical award is needed and no compliments have to be said (even though they usually are). What mattered was the 30 seconds where you connected.

In my own life, I have found that touching hands has brought comfort, confidence, and connection. When I give a student a handshake or high five, they feel celebrated. When I hold someone’s hand during a Healing Touch session, they feel loved and empowered to go on. When I shake the hand of someone new, we offer each other the possibility of friendship or partnership.

Gratitude in Failure

They always interview the baker who has just learned they are being sent home. Each time, the baker expresses gratitude for the opportunity and the experience. They never express anger and claim that it is unfair. And even though there are often tears, you can truly see that they have appreciated their time in the tent. Many express that they have learned a lot or have grown as a baker during their brief time there.

It reminds me of the saying, “It’s better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.” Because, after all, isn’t it about the experiences that we have had? And there is always something that we have learned that we can take with us when we go. Life is about growth, and how can we have growth if we don’t have challenges?

When Love Is Your Motivation, You Surpass Challenges

Often in the showstopper challenge, someone in the bottom rung of bakers will do a sentimental bake inspired by someone who they love. They get an extra boost to keep going because they feel the love of that special person (or pet). These bakes often turn out to be some of the best that they do because they mean more than just the technicality of the challenge…they are about the heart connection.

In my own life, whenever I feel that I am doubting myself or am struggling with a challenge, I find strength in focusing on the love I feel for those who are near to me. My love for others becomes my motivation for completing the task at hand. At times, I even feel the loving support enfolding me from those who have passed away. This re-centering on love in difficult moments clears my head of negative thoughts and allows me to enter into the flow.

Competition Doesn’t Mean That You Are Enemies

Contestants hold hands while they wait to hear who will be going home. They express sympathy or sometimes even sorrow when another contestant is sent home because they have often become friends during these long days in the tent. They wish each other well and often reunite, not just at the last episode, but after all the episodes are completed. Many cheer on and congratulate the star baker and often express admiration for each other. And they never say anything disparaging about or to each other.

What if we all had that viewpoint–that we are here to grow together, learn from each other, and encourage each other on the journey? Just because one loses the competition, doesn’t mean that they haven’t pushed themselves further than they ever thought they could go. Those we are in competition with can inspire and motivate us to be better. I prefer to play pickleball with people who are a little better than me because they push me to be better. And we are always still friends afterward because it was all about the game.

About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for others to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.